‘Train terror attack’: Praise for passengers who tackled gunman

Presidents and prime ministers have praised passengers who disarmed a suspected Islamist gunman apparently poised to commit mass murder on a busy train in France.

A Briton and three Americans, two of them soldiers, have been hailed as heroes.

Spencer Stone, of the US air force, was injured when the attacker also produced a knife.

The other US serviceman, National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, said:

“I saw a guy entering the train with an AK (47) and a handgun and I just looked over at Spencer and said: ‘Let’s go, go!’ And he jumped up and I followed behind him by about three seconds.

“Spencer got to the guy first, grabbed the guy by the neck and I grabbed the handgun.

“I got the handgun away from the guy and threw it, and then I grabbed the AK (47) which was at his feet.”

The Kalashnikov-toting attacker was removed from the Amsterdam to Paris train at Arras in northern France, as was an arsenal of weapons.

He is now being questioned by anti-terrorist police in the Paris region.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: “If the identity he has declared is confirmed, he is a 26-year-old man of Moroccan nationality identified by the Spanish authorities to French intelligence services in February 2014 because of his involvement with the radical Islamist movement,”

The minister did not confirm Spanish press reports that the suspect had travelled to Syria.

A passenger was hit by a bullet. Others suffered shock.

But thanks to courage hailed by world leaders, all those on board Friday’s early evening train escaped with their lives.

There were warm words from Washington.

“The President expressed his profound gratitude for the courage and quick thinking of several passengers, including US service members, who selflessly subdued the attacker,” the White House said in a statement.

“It is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy.”

President Francois Hollande and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron were among other leaders adding their praise.

President Hollande’s office said he would receive the passengers who subdued the gunman in the coming days.

CCTV footage captures a bomb blast this afternoon in Bangkok at a location frequented by tourists. It was the second bomb attack in under 24 hours.

18 August 2015

A second bomb attack apparently targeting tourists hit the Thai capital this afternoon, the second such attack in less than 24 hours.

No one was reported injured in the attack, which happened beneath a bridge over the Chao Phraya River near a pier heavily used by tourists to sightsee along the river.

Police have secured the area under the Saphan Taksin bridge, where someone reportedly threw an explosive device down onto a footbridge crowded with pedestrians at 12:59 pm. Authorities confirmed that, as appears in the video, the bomb missed the footbridge and exploded in the water.

The footbridge is located near a busy point of embarkation for the Chao Phraya River Express Boat, a river taxi service popular with visitors.

Video of the incident shows a sizeable blast sending people scattering as they cross the bridge.

Speaking in a live address to the nation at 3pm, Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said the perpetrators would be found and brought to justice.

"It appears that there is still group of individuals in our country who harbor ill wishes against the nation," he said. "They may aim to sabotage our political, economic, tourism or other institutions."

He expressed his condolences to the victims and said they would be "fully compensated in accordance with the laws."

Junta spokesman Winthai Suwaree, speaking after Prayuth, asked for the public's cooperation, specifically saying that people should comply if they are stopped and searched.

Indonesian passenger plane missing in remote Papua region

Indonesian passenger plane carrying 54 people lost contact Sunday during a flight in the easternmost province of Papua

The Trigana Air ATR 42 turboprop plane lost contact just before 3pmPhoto: EPA

By Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney

10:26AM BST 16 Aug 2015

An Indonesian domestic aircraft carrying 54 people has lost contact with air traffic control while flying through heavy weather in the remote eastern province of Papua.

The Trigana Airlines plane, carrying 49 passengers and five crew, was travelling from Jayapura, the provincial capital, to Oksibil, near the border with Papua New Guinea.

"Lost contact with plane," said Bambang Soelystyo, the head of Basarnas, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency.

The Trigana Airlines plane was flying south from Jayapura to Oksibil airport

The weather was poor near Oksibil, with heavy rain, strong winds and fog, when the plane lost contact with the airport minutes before it was scheduled to land.

"We are not sure what happened to the plane yet and we are coordinating with local authorities," said a transport ministry spokesman.

"The weather is currently very bad there, it's very dark and cloudy. It's not conducive for a search. The area is mountainous."

The plane lost contact with the airport minutes before it was scheduled to land (file photo) Photo: Achdiyatma Reza

As poor weather prevented a search, the agency said the ATR42-300 twin turboprop plane lost contact with air traffic control at 2.55pm local time, about 33 minutes after take-off and just five minutes before it was due to arrive at Oksibil.

Much of Papua is covered with impenetrable jungles and mountains. Some planes that have crashed there in the past have never been found.

Last December, an AirAsia passenger jet crashed during a two-hour flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore, killing all 162 people on board. The government subsequently introduced tougher air safety regulations. A final report on the crash is due to be released this month but authorities have indicated the disaster was caused by an attempt to avoid heavy weather.

In June, more than 100 people died after a military plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in Medan, the country’s third-largest city. The president has promised a review of the air force's ageing fleet.

Thein Sein eyes second term and more reforms

NAYPYITAW -- Myanmar's President Thein Sein signaled that he intends to pursue his ambitious reform program beyond national elections in November to the end of his current term in early 2016, and rejected recent charges that reforms had stalled and the process was backsliding.

In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review on Wednesday, the president confirmed a change in his earlier intention to retire after his current term, saying he would be willing to serve a second presidential term. That, however, would depend on "the country's situation, the prevailing circumstances and wishes of the people," he noted, outlining far-reaching goals for the final phase of his current term.

Among what he described as top priorities in the final stages of his government, Thein Sein gave the strongest indication so far of confidence that a nationwide ceasefire agreement could be finalized with ethnic armed groups before the Nov. 8 poll. He also outlined plans to deepen Myanmar's diplomatic ties with neighboring countries and step up economic development focusing on the manufacturing sector -- particularly small and medium enterprises -- alongside a new push to move the country away from raw materials exports toward value-added production.

"I don't agree that our democratic reforms have stalled or are back-sliding," he said at the presidential palace in the capital, Naypyitaw. While acknowledging that his government had not reached the lofty poverty eradication and income-boosting targets adopted early in his term, he said that a range of political, economic and administrative reforms had resulted in "tangible and significant achievements" during his term.

These included political and security developments, such as a marked reduction in fighting between ethnic armed groups and military, economic and social reforms, and the creation of around 80 new political parties -- some featuring former political prisoners -- that would contest elections, he said.

"One of the most significant achievements is that we have been able to change military government to democratic elected government without bloodshed and in a peaceful and stable manner... This will be our legacy in the history of Myanmar," he added.

On the economic front, in the eight months or so remaining until a new administration took over, the government would "redouble efforts" to help growth in the manufacturing sector and to boost productivity and exports, he said. In that respect, he added, the government would increase its focus on improving basic infrastructure such as reliable and sufficient supplies of electricity and technological know how. He said that outside assistance was vital to achieve this objective.

"To cope with the shortages, we are closely working with other countries, including Japan," Thein Sein said, noting Japan's high levels of development assistance and investment. High profile projects include the nearly completed first phase of the multi-billion dollar Thilawa special economic zone near Yangon, and Tokyo's recent decision to join Thailand and Myanmar in developing the Dawei economic zone and deep sea port project in the country's south.

Good relations

Beyond purely economic imperatives, the government wanted to further broaden Myanmar's international relations, he said. While China remained a good friend and neighbor, and still ranked as the top investor in Myanmar, relations with the U.S. had warmed considerably despite continuing hesitancy among some big U.S. investors. "They have eased sanctions but have not yet lifted them ... [but] President [Barack] Obama's administration started a new approach and reengagement policy with Myanmar. As a result of this policy, our countries have good relations."

Thein Sein stressed that India was also a key regional player, and that good relations were vital for Myanmar. "We share a common border, about 1,000 km," he said. "Both China and India are big emerging economic powers, and our country is sandwiched between them. So we need cordial relations with these important neighbors."

Domestic politics

On the role of the Tatmadaw, or Myanmar's armed forces, Thein Sein predicted a natural reduction of the military's role in parliament and politics as peace is restored. "I myself served in the military for 45 years. The Tatmadaw comprises national citizens. Right now, some military service personnel serve as representatives in parliament and their role is to help ensure a smooth and stable democratic transition in our country. As you know, there are still armed groups in our county, and both parliamentarians and the people have little knowledge about democratic practices and experiences. We are still in the learning process... [and] as our democratic experience matures, the military will gradually reduce its role in politics."

Pressed about his attitude to a second term, he said that while he had age and health issues -- he recently turned 70 and uses a pacemaker -- there were few younger people who were experienced enough to "steer the country."

He lamented the lack of unity in politics, and alluded to recent struggles within the ruling USDP party, including moves by the powerful parliamentary Speaker Shwe Mann to amend laws in order to ban cabinet ministers from running under party banners. The amendments were opposed by the parliament's military bloc, which holds 25% of the 664 seats in the bicameral legislature and is seen as closely aligned with the president.

Local political analysts said the move highlighted a bitter and deepening rift within the ruling party between the two political leaders, and exposed a growing divide between the executive and legislative branches.

"This [the ban on ministers running under party banners] is quite an unusual provision, because according to the constitution, every citizen has the right to vote and every citizen has the right to run [for elected office]," Thein Sein told the NAR. "So this is quite unusual and I believe no one will be happy with this or no one will obey this provision."

While acknowledging that the ban would affect any members of his government who wanted to run for seats under a party banner, the president emphasized that any ministers or senior officials could run as individuals -- and that he would be eligible for a second presidential term without running for a seat.

"With my age -- and with some health concerns, I want to retire... But frankly speaking, in our country, there are very few young or even middle-aged people who could steer the country in the right direction. As you know our electoral system and presidential selection procedure is that [a presidential candidate] does not need to run in elections because it is based on parliamentarians, who choose the president. So running in the election is not necessary. The president is chosen by parliamentarians through an electoral college system.

"But at present what I consider more important than being president or being next president is to stage these elections peacefully and successfully and in a free and fair manner -- and I want to see peace and stability in the post-election period and to ensure that whoever wins the elections and the presidency can form a government in a peaceful and stable manner. That is more important than pursuing the presidency -- and that is what I have on my mind."

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Terror arrived at a Tunisian beach resort on Friday when at least 37 people were killed in a mass shooting by suspected Islamist militants.

Dozens more were wounded when at least one attacker struck at a packed beach and five star hotel at the popular Sousse resort.

Officials said the dead included British, German, Belgian and Irish tourists as well as Tunisians.

Sousse is one of Tunisia’s most visited beach destinations, drawing around 1.2 million tourists every year.

Authorities said the attacker posed as a beach-goer, wearing shorts and hiding his Kalashnikov under an umbrella. He was later shot dead by security forces.

There were unconfirmed reports of a second gunman.

Witnesses told how their peaceful holiday suddenly turned into carnage. Some described how terrified sunbathers started running from the beach after hearing the sudden sound of gunfire.

One Tunisian eyewitness described the pandemonium: “I heard the sound of shooting coming from the beach , then I saw a man shooting at tourists and running towards the swimming pool.Tourists panicked and tried to escape and then he threw a grenade at them. I saw a man killed in the explosion and I think a woman beside him was seriously injured.”

Guests at the 5 star Imperial Marhaba Hotel were told to lock themselves in their rooms to escape the shootings.

Owners Riu Hotels have confirmed that 565 guests were staying at the resort when it was attacked.

Within a few hours, Tunisia’s president Beji Caid Essebsi visited the site of the shootings.

No group has claimed responsibility but Islamic State militants warned a few days ago of “calamity” for non-believers during Ramadan.

The country is still reeling from a similar attack on a Tunis museum in March which left more than 20 people dead.

The impact on tourism was immediate as several tourist operators warned of postponed bookings and chartered flights to Tunisia were cancelled.